Stephen Fry: In Profile

On his record-breaking swearing, his disdain towards The Da Vinci Code, and his lifelong friendship with Hugh Laurie.

Some people call me ‘Steve’. Not many, but a few. Often when I get in a taxi, the driver will say, ‘Alright, Steve’. It’s fine by me.

I believe I still hold the record for saying ‘fuck’ on British television. I was taking part in a debate on bad language and, in trying to point up that there are very few synonyms for ‘fuck’, I must have used the word twenty or thirty times. I like to think [late English anti-censorship theatre critic] Kenneth Tynan would have been proud.

The Da Vinci Code really is arse gravy of the very worst kind. I’ve said it many times before but it’s worth repeating.

John Mills had no reservations about playing a late-flowering cocaine enthusiast in my film Bright Young Things. I took tea with him one day before filming and explained the part to him — he was 95 at the time. “Oh, goody!” he laughed after I’d outlined the role, “My first coke movie!”

Am I in love with [comedian] Alan Davies? No, but he is a poppet. And he tries ever so hard on [British quiz show] QI, bless him.

Twitter’s terrific fun but I think it’s important people realise it isn’t to be taken too seriously. It’s called Twitter, after all.